Category: Sports

The Paris Olympics outperformed expectations, revitalising the Olympic brand and establishing a high standard for future hosts like Los Angeles. Despite initial doubts, with France experiencing political unrest and security worries, the Games were a great success. The closing ceremony at Stade de France represented this rejuvenation, with Paris transformed into an open-air Olympic playground. Temporary stadiums placed among renowned locations allowed fans to enjoy the games without purchasing a ticket.

Paris avoided controversies while geopolitical issues remained peripheral, and it skilfully managed potentially controversial moves such as product placements. The success of Paris is likely to rekindle interest in towns competing to host the Olympics, with Los Angeles 2028 CEO Casey Wasserman recognising the high standards established. However, he emphasised that LA will prioritise authenticity over copying Paris’s flair.

Paris also witnessed record viewership and participation, with NBCUniversal claiming its best U.S. audience since 2012 and Airbnb hosting its largest event ever. Despite some minor concerns, such as complaints about the Olympic Village and a few controversies, the Games had a far-reaching positive impact.

Faith Kipyegon of Kenya made history on Saturday by winning her third consecutive Olympic 1,500m gold medal, becoming the only athlete to accomplish this feat. Kipyegon pulled ahead in the final lap, finishing in 3:51.29 to shatter the Olympic record. Jessica Hull of Australia won silver, while Georgia Bell of the United Kingdom claimed bronze. Kipyegon, overcome with emotion, slumped after crossing the finish line, hands on her head in shock.

“I was looking forward to defending my crown. It’s amazing: I finished it. “I’m so happy,” Kipyegon remarked, reflecting on her journey from humble beginnings in Kenya’s Rift Valley to become one of the best middle-distance runners.

Kipyegon’s win on Saturday was pleasant because he narrowly avoided disqualification in the 5,000m earlier in the week due to a confrontation with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay. Despite the setback, she recovered stronger, passing Tsegay on the penultimate lap of the 1,500m to win gold, while Tsegay fell to last place.

Hull and Bell fought hard in the home straight, defeating Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji to win the medals. Hull ran 3:52.56, while Bell finished in 3:52.61, a British national record. Bell, 30, made an outstanding Olympic debut after her training companion Keely Hodgkinson’s gold in the 800m.

Michelle Gulyas of Hungary won the women’s Modern Pentathlon gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, scoring a world record of 1,461 points. Despite having a 13-second lead going into the last laser run, France’s Elodie Clouvel finished in second place due to several shooting misses. South Korean athlete Seong Seung-min won the bronze.

Gulyas’ precision in the laser run was crucial to her triumph, whereas Clouvel’s slow shooting cost her the lead. Others were disappointed at the event, notably France’s Marie Oteiza, who lost her medal aspirations after falling during the show jumping round. Laura Heredia of Spain was also eliminated after her horse refused to cooperate three times.

Britain’s reigning champion Kate French withdrew earlier due to sickness, allowing Germany’s Annika Zillekens to remain a reserve. The equestrian round, held against the backdrop of the Palace of Versailles, was remarkable for being the final Olympic appearance of horses in Modern Pentathlon.

The decision to switch to obstacle courses for future Games derives from problems at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, where Zillekens lost her gold medal hopes when her horse refused to jump. The incident, in which German coach Kim Raisner struck the horse, generated global concern about equestrian care and resulted in significant changes to the sport.

Mijain Lopez of Cuba created history by winning his fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in men’s Greco-Roman wrestling 130 kilogrammes at the Paris Olympics. Lopez was formerly among a select group of competitors who had won four individual gold medals in the same event, including Michael Phelps and Carl Lewis. He now stands alone, having accomplished an incredible feat that no other Olympian has.

Lopez expressed his excitement, adding, “It was a result I had hoped for, not just for myself, but for the world and my country.” It’s the prize for a lifetime of hard work and the support of everyone, including my family.”

Lopez had not participated internationally since the Tokyo Olympics, preferring to focus on his training. His stature and talent have given him a considerable competitive advantage, allowing him to physically overpower opponents. This combo has produced unequalled Olympic success.

Lopez’s Olympic career began in Athens in 2004, but his gold medal streak began in Beijing in 2008. In Paris, he overcame Lee Seung-chan of South Korea, Amin Mirzazadeh of Iran, and Sabah Shariati of Azerbaijan before winning the final against Chile’s Yasmani Acosta Fernandez.

Following his victory, Lopez declared his retirement, saying, “I want to inspire the younger generations.”

The women’s cycling team from Great Britain, under the direction of world champion Emma Finucane, won gold in the team sprint at the Olympic Velodrome and repeatedly broke world records. Finucane, Katy Marchant, and Sophie Capewell delivered an outstanding performance, defeating New Zealand in a thrilling final. The three set a new world mark of 45.186 seconds, establishing their dominance in the women’s sprint.

The British squad’s path to success was paved with perseverance and skill, as Finucane stated, “We nailed every process we wanted to, and I couldn’t be more proud of the team.” The British cyclists smashed the world record three times in three hours, with New Zealand trailing by over half a second on the penultimate loop.

Katy Marchant, a bronze medallist at the Rio Olympics, shared her pleasure at finally winning gold in front of her two-year-old son Arthur. “It really does not get much better than that,” she remarked, praising the team’s effort and dedication. Sophie Capewell, inspired by her late father’s counsel to “never settle for fourth,” made a key contribution to the team’s achievement, stating, “I know he’s super proud of me.”

Vinesh Phogat became the first wrestler in the Olympics to defeat Yui Susaki, snapping the Japanese star’s incredible unbeaten streak. Susaki, with an 82-0 career record, was practically unbeatable, winning the Olympics and four World Championships without dropping a point. However, Phogat’s outstanding performance in their first-round encounter ended Susaki’s flawless record.

Despite being regarded as the underdog, Phogat scored a perfect takedown in the last seconds to secure a 3-2 victory. This victory was not just a personal achievement, but it also provided a tremendous boost to Indian wrestling. Vinesh, fuelled by previous disappointments and a gruelling weight loss, exhibited incredible tenacity and strategic prowess. Her victory opened up the competition, allowing her to overcome European champion Oksana Livach and Pan American champion Yuznelys Guzman in the following rounds.

Phogat, who has faced various hurdles, including injuries and a controversial protest against the Wrestling Federation of India, is now focussing on the gold medal match. As she prepares to face Sarah Hildebrandt, her triumph over Susaki serves as a tribute to her determination and expertise.

Avinash Sable made history by becoming the first Indian man to compete in the Olympics’ 3,000m steeplechase final. This incredible result adds to Sable’s already impressive resume, which includes a gold medal at the Asian Games.

Sable, a 29-year-old national record holder, has been a pioneer in Indian sports. He broke the Asian Games record in 8:19.50, giving India its first athletics gold medal in the event. His journey from humble beginnings in Maharashtra’s Beed region to the Olympic finals is inspirational. Sable, who was born on September 13, 1994, to a farming family, faced various hurdles, including having to run six kilometres to school every day owing to a lack of public transport.

His athletic career took off after he joined the Indian Army and discovered his sprinting prowess in 2015. Despite early failures, including a serious injury, Sable’s determination enabled him to break national records and surpass expectations.  In 2023, he dominated the Diamond League series and won gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games with a record-breaking performance.

His remarkable achievement in the Olympic finals, which follows a string of record-breaking performances, solidifies his standing as a pioneer in Indian athletics and gives hope to future Indian athletes in the global arena.

Beginning on January 9, next year, former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik will be the first player from India to compete in the South African T20 league (SA20). Karthik has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket; nevertheless, he will now play for the Paarl Royals, the sister team of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

Karthik, 39, announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League 2024 season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but he is making a comeback as one of the SA20 League’s ambassadors. He talked about how happy he was to be back, saying how much he missed South Africa and how excited he was to win the SA20 League with the Royals.

“I couldn’t say no when this opportunity came about because of how special it would be to come back to playing competitive cricket and win this incredible competition with the Royals,” Karthik stated in a release. “I have so many fond memories of playing in and visiting South Africa.”

According to the BCCI, only retired Indian players are eligible for international league competition. In international franchise events, Karthik will compete alongside recent retirees like Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Robin Uthappa.

Kaylia Nemour of Algeria became the first African gymnast to win an Olympic medal when she won gold on the asymmetric bars at the Paris Games on Sunday. The 17-year-old enthralled the Bercy Arena audience with her fast-paced routine, which included intricate release-and-catch manoeuvres. Nemour, who formerly represented France, scored 15.700 points, giving Algeria its first medal at the Paris Olympics.

Qiu Qiyuan of China, the 2023 world champion, won silver with 15.500 points, while American Sunisa Lee grabbed bronze with 14.800 points. Rebecca Downie, a British gymnast, finished eighth after falling during her performance.

Fans erupted in shouts as Nemour finished her dismount, bringing her to tears of joy. “I can’t believe this has happened,” she exclaimed, still in shock after winning her first major global tournament. The Algerian Olympic Committee praised her as a legend, describing her triumph as a demonstration of Algeria’s strength and resolve.

Men’s events saw Carlos Edriel Yulo of the Philippines win his second gold medal in the vault, while China’s Liu Yang defended his Olympic crown in the rings. Simone Biles will compete in the final gymnastics events in Paris, hoping to add two more gold medals to her amazing total.

Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini won Italy’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s doubles, defeating Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider 2-6, 6-1 (10-7) on Sunday. After dropping the first set, the Italians launched a comeback, eventually winning the super tiebreak. “We gave everything and got the gold medal,” Paolini remarked. Errani continued, “In the first set, we struggled, but we made it great in the end.”

Errani, a 37-year-old former doubles world number one, became the seventh player to complete a career Golden Slam in women’s doubles, winning all four majors and the Olympic gold medal. She also became the oldest Olympic tennis gold medallist, surpassing Novak Djokovic’s record established only two hours earlier. Italy’s only prior Olympic tennis medal was a bronze in 1924.

Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain won the bronze medal after defeating Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, Russian adolescents Andreeva and Shnaider were satisfied with their silver. Andreeva, 17, became the second youngest Olympic tennis medallist behind Jennifer Capriati. “We are proud of it,” Shnaider explained. “We could do better, but for our first time, we are happy with the result.”